The Boomtown Rats

Formed in Dublin in 1975, The Boomtown Rats were once described as 'leprous anti-establishment scumbags' and banned from playing in their home country. They played their first UK shows with the Ramones and Talking Heads and fought the punk wars alongside the Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Jam and The Stranglers. They were one of the biggest bands of the late '70s and '80s, and their string of hits and platinum albums earned them Brit Awards, Ivor Novellos and Grammys.